Jasper Crane died in 1681. His will, dated 1678, mentioned his children John, Azariah, Jasper and Hannah Huntington. He bequeathed to his son John a silver bowl, which afterward was inherited by his brother Azariah, who gave it to the First Church of Newark and which is still in use in this old church as a baptismal font. Azariah Crane, son of Jasper, married Mary, daughter of Robert Treat, and is later mentioned as living at his home place at the Mountain (that is, now Montclair) in 1715. He was interested and active in town and church development; a deacon in the Newark church till his death. A deed conveying land to his son Azariah, Jr., dated "in the 26th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God," may be seen hanging in the public library of this town. He, with his brother Jasper were evidently the first white settlers at the foot of the Mountain. He died November 5th, 1730, in his eighty-third year. His children were Hannah, Mariah, Nathaniel, Azariah, Jr., Robert, Jane, Mary and John. Historic records state that Nathaniel, oldest son of Azariah, was born in 1680 and settled near a spring at the foot of the Mountain. The old house, about which I played in childhood, was located on the Orange Road near to the present Myrtle Avenue, about two hundred feet west from the road. It was a two-story house with double pitched roof, large hall in the center with rooms each side. At the rear of the house stood a small building occupied in the early days by slaves and by their descendants as family servants through several generations. At the south end of the house stood the cut stone milk house built over the spring mentioned above. On the shelves of this cool milk room, I remember seeing the large pans of milk and rolls of new-made butter. The clear stream flowing from this spring was one of the heads of the brook now running across Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue near Park Street. The last occupant in the family line of the old Crane homestead was Major Nathaniel Crane, who died childless. He was the fourth descendant from Nathaniel, son of Azariah. The house was remodeled several times by successive owners after it passed from the Crane family. In later years it was known as the Frost house, Mr. Frost having owned and occupied it for a number of years. It was taken down about 1900 to give place for new improvements, with but little knowledge that it probably was the first house building in Montclair.

Nathaniel Crane, an early occupant of this house, was public spirited and interested in this westerly end of the large township, and particularly desirous for a more convenient place of public worship than the distant church at Newark, which was the only one in the entire township up to 1719, when the first church of Orange was organized and known as the Mountain Society. Nathaniel Crane was an earnest supporter of the new enterprise and a liberal contributor to the new church building. He died in 1760. His children were William, Noah, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Jane and Mehetabel. The preliminary to his will in possession may be of interest to the present generation. "In the Name of God, Amen. I, Nathaniel Crane, of Newark, in the County of Essex and province of New Jersey, Yeoman. Being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling to mind the mortality of my body do think fit to make and publish this my last Will. This Twenty day of Nov. in the Twenty-seventh year of the Reign of George the Second King of Great Britain, Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Three. In the following manner and form, that is to say my just debts and funeral charges being paid, I first give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth, my riding chair (a two-wheeled chaise with leather top trimmed with green morocco, as I remember it well preserved in my grandfather's wagon house). My best bed stead, bed with all the coverings and furnishings belonging to the same and as much of the rest of my household stuff as she shall see cause to keep for her use and comfort, as also the great yellow cow and the little red cow." Following is a further division of his personal property, giving to his son Nathaniel his best vest with silver buttons. "Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved son Noah my negro boy named Shem upon condition that he doth on the account pay unto my three daughters the sum of Thirty-five Pounds to be equally divided between them. "Then follows the division of his real estate among his sons. He bequeaths to his eldest son, William, a tract of land on both sides of Valley Road north of Clairmont Avenue, where he evidently lived at the time in the stone house known later as Washington's headquarters in the time of the Revolutionary War. The old historic house was recently demolished and the entire farm has been changed to residential plots. It has remained in the family till recent years. A portion is still held by one of his descendants, Mr. Alfred J. Crane, now living at Monroe, New York.

This same will gives to his second son, Noah, the original home (the Frost House) together with the remainder of his land, both below and over the Mountain. Noah Crane was born April 18th, 1719. He married Mary Baldwin. His name appears as an officer and active supporter of the church. Near the close of his life the residents of Bloomfield and vicinity were planning for the organization of a third church in which he took a lively interest, and his name appears as a liberal contributor for the new church building, which still stands with some enlargement, the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield. He died June 8th, 1800, and the stone that marks his grave, with that of his wife Mary, may be seen in the Bloomfield Cemetery. His children were Samuel, born 1747; Esther, Joseph (my grandfather), born 1751; Elizabeth, born 1753; Caleb, Nathaniel, Mary, Nehemiah, Stephen and Mehetabel. His will, dated February 17, 1795, bequeaths to his oldest son, Samuel, the tract of land on which he lived at Horse Neck (now Caldwell). Many of his descendants are now living in that vicinity. Mr. Henry D. Crane, late Treasurer of the Montclair Savings Bank, was his great-grandson. To his daughter, Mehetabel he willed L70 York currency. She married Gen. William Gold who lived in Caldwell and was a representative in the New Jersey Legislature. His family monument stands just back of the Caldwell Presbyterian Church.

All the land below the Mountain on both sides of Valley Road from Union Street north to near Hillside Avenue, and also from Van Vleck Street north to about Chestnut Street, he gave to his two sons, Joseph and Nathaniel. The homestead (Frost House) was the inheritance of Nathaniel, who was born October 26th, 1757. He married Hannah Crane, and occupied several positions of trust. His commission as Captain of a Company of Light Infantry of the Militia of Essex County, date August 20th, 1803, and signed by Richard Howell, Governor of the State, and also his commission as Coroner of Essex County, dated October 23rd, 1817, signed by Governor John Williamson, may be seen hanging in our public library. He was interested in the education of your men and to this end he was a liberal contributor to the building of the Academy at Bloomfield, now the German Theological School. He also left a fund for the education of your men for the ministry still held in trust by the Newark Presbytery, the annual income of which is disbursed by the Presbytery in accordance with the will of the donor. He was as much interested as his ancestry in the church. The original bell of the old church at Bloomfield was his gift, and for many years its strong and sweet sound called the people living as far west as the top of our Mountain, and those living at the extreme north of Bloomfield, to public worship. He made provision for his old colored servant, James Howe, who was a survivor of the former slaves of the family and was known as Uncle Jim. He gave him a good tract of land on the north side of Clairmont Avenue running west from North Mountain Avenue, where he lived many years. A part of the house he occupied is still standing. As children, we used to enjoy visiting the old man who had become blind, and listening to his stories of our ancestry. Major Nathaniel Crane had no children and made the West Bloomfield Presbyterian Church the residuary legatee of his estate, which amounted to about ten thousand dollars. This fund the will requires to be held in trust by the church and the annual income to be used in support of the gospel in this church. He died April 18th, 1833. In recognition of his gift to the church, The Society erected a suitable monument over his and his wife's graves in the Rosedale Cemetery.

Joseph Crane, the third son of Noah Crane, who with his brother Nathaniel inherited the farm under the mountain, was born in 1751, and married Hannah Lampson of Orange. He built and lived on the opposite side of the street from the old homestead, a little north of the northeast corner of Orange Road and Plymouth Street. The old grandfather home with its hallowed surroundings, the mysterious old garret with its spinning wheels and other implements for converting the home-grown flax and wool into material for family use, with the dark cellar in which were stored the bins of apples and vegetables, barrels of cider and vinegar, together with the peculiar odor of the special closet for cookies and pies, are still fresh from childhood's memory. He was a man of strong physique and marked integrity of character, interested in public affairs, the promotion of religion and education; was highly esteemed as a citizen and was an elder in the old church in Bloomfield from the time of its organization until his death. He contributed, as per subscription list still extant, L60 sterling toward the building of the church. Two of his sons were graduates of Princeton College and later ministers in the Presbyterian Church. He died October 11th, 1832. The following epitaph on his tombstone in the Bloomfield Cemetery is recognized as an honest record by the few who remember him: "As husband and father he was affectionateand faithful; as a neighbor, upright and obliging; as a citizen, patriotic and useful, and as a professor of religion, was an officer in the church in an eminent degree exemplary. He had the confidence of all that knew him. Lived esteemed and died lamented. He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost."

There were several other divisions of the Crane family. Of the generation named above, Aaron Crane, who was a descendant of Azariah, lived in a part of the building now known as the Hillside House formerly owned by the Wheeler family. He had a large and respected family. The names of two of his children, Zenas S. and Timothy, are familiar to some now living. They both have descendants residing in Montclair. Zenas S. Crane was a prominent citizen of West Bloomfield, serving the town for many years as Magistrate and Civil Engineer. A large proportion of the deeds of conveyance of land and wills of earlier days may be found in his handwriting. He was regarded as particularly accurate both in his surveys and judicial decisions.

His brother, Timothy Crane, lived on Valley Road at the corner of what is now Mountain View Place, his fine farm extending west of his residence. In early life he followed cabinet making. The old town ballot-box in use many years after his decease was his workmanship. Later he devoted his attention more particularly to his farm. He had a special fancy for fine fruit with which his place was well stocked. Mr. Crane was highly esteemed as a citizen and kindly neighbor. He has descendants still living in the town who revere his memory.

Another branch of the family was Jeremiah Crane who lived in the house on the south side of Union Street west of Orange Road, more recently known as the Porter home, and owned a well-cultivated farm. His life antedates my memory, but he was spoken of as a sturdy old man. He reared a large family. Two of his sons, Ira Crane (grandfather of I. Seymour Crane) and William Crane, were highly respected citizens of the town. Their descendants still live in Montclair and Newark.

Israel Crane, who perhaps attained to a greater eminence than any of the family of his generation, was a descendant of William Crane mentioned above, who built and lived in the house known as Washington's headquarters. Mr. Israel Crane was a successful business man, regarded as the wealthiest person in this vicinity, conducted a large general store on Glen Ridge Avenue facing Spring Street, where his residence still stands; was an active man in the construction and later sole owner of the Newark and Bloomfield Turnpike, and rendered valuable service to the religious and educational interest of the town.

Zadock Crane, one of the old time residents, lived near the southeast corner of Midland Avenue and Walnut street. I am told that his old well still exists under the house of Mrs. Charles H. Johnson, Jr. Uncle Zadock, as he was familiarly called, had some eccentricities. He claimed to have been actively engaged in the Revolutionary War, and used to relate to us his heroic deeds in service. He was possessed with an idea of large mineral wealth, mainly gold, that could be dug from our mountain. He made a number of excavations resulting only in finding what was called "Fool's Gold." Walnut Street at that time was a private lane used as a wood road, terminating in the woods near where the Greenwood Lake Railroad Station now stands, and was called Zadock's Lane.

Stephen Fordham Crane and Amos Crane were grandsons of William Crane and the last descendants of the family to occupy the old Washington Headquarters. Their farms were largely on the east side of Valley Road. The tract south of Walnut Street and extending east to Forest Street, was the property of Stephen Fordham Crane, and that part of the farm north of Walnut Street as far east as the Erie Station was owned by Amos Crane. They were quiet home people, highly respected, and both members of the First Presbyterian Church of which Stephen Fordham Crane was an elder. Amos Crane possessed a well selected library and was a man of large general information. By the growth of the town these farms were greatly enhanced in value, making a liberal fortune for their families.

Joshua Crane, a cousin of Stephen F. and Amos Crane, occupied the adjoining farm north. The house stood on the west side of Valley Road near Van Vleck Street, and the farm on the opposite side extended east about to forest Street. My boyish memory of Mr. Crane is associated with his peculiar voice as leader of the singing in the prayer meeting and Sabbath School. He married, quite late in life, a lady of strong character from Pennsylvania, and it was generally understood that his conversion to the Democratic party and Baptist faith was due to her. The old home was later purchased by Dr. Wiseman of New York, who made some fine improvements; one in the line of his profession was a pond for the cultivation of leeches. The evidence of its productiveness was furnished by their adherence to the bodies of the young bathers when they left the water.

Josiah Crane, a brother of Joshua, lived at the northwest corner of Clairmont Avenue and Mountain Avenue. His farm lay north and west of his residence and later came largely into the possession of Mr. Joseph Van Vleck. Mr. Crane was an active supporter of the Methodist Church in its early history in Montclair. He was blessed with a large family of children, one of them, the Rev. John Crane, was a minister in the M.E. Church. William C. Carl, distinguished as an organist in New York, is his grandson.

As the early settlers were almost entirely of the Crane family, the name is necessarily conspicuous in this paper, but that I have barely touched the family line is apparent when I state that Hon. Ellery B. Crane of Massachusetts has recently published a genealogical list of the Crane family, has found it necessary to use two volumes to make it complete.

In the growth of the town other names besides the Crane family appeared among the early settlers. The northern part of the town was entirely a farming locality. The principal names of its early settlers were Speer, Van Gieson, Sigler, Harrison and Garrabrant. Speers predominated and it took the name Speertown.

The southern part of the town, joining Orange, was also a farming settlement, conspicuous names being Baldwin, Ward and Dodd. Being nearer the center than Speertown, they were more intimately identified with the social and civic interests of the community. Capt. John Baldwin, whose residence stood at the northeast corner of Elm Street and Orange Road, was physically and mentally, as well as morally, a strong man. He was eminently patriotic and a zealous politician in the true sense, and was a representative of real worth in the State Legislature. His brother Caleb Baldwin, whose farm and home was occupied for many years by the family of Mr. George P. Farmer, on the Orange Road, was a strong and sturdy character, zealous for the religious interests of the town and a close student of Jonathan Edwards. His intelligent, sincere and earnest Christian life has left an influence that may still be traced through the few who remember and revere his name. He was an officer for many years in the First Presbyterian Church at Bloomfield.

Among the names of valued citizens of this generation was Mr. John Munn, who lived in the house now occupied by the Clover Hill School, corner of Mountain and Bloomfield Avenues, his farm extending to the top of the Mountain. He was closely identified with the public and religious interests of the town, as such was a valued citizen, and was an officer in the local church. He served the town for many years as magistrate and State as a member of the Legislature.

Math's Smith lived, and, for the times, conducted a large leather manufacturing business on the property now occupied by Mr. I. Seymour Crane. I have in my possession the contract made by Smith & Doremus with David Riker, dated May 26th, 1807, for building the currier shop, 17x20, which stood, when I was a boy, just in front of where Mr. I. Seymour Crane's residence now stands. The consideration for furnishing the material and completing the building was one hundred and ninety dollars. The tan yard, bark mill, pond and vats occupied the ground in the rear. Mr. Smith held the esteem of the entire town as a Christian citizen. He was an elder in the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church till the time of the organization of the Presbyterian Church in Montclair, of which he was an elder till the time of his death. Associated with him for a number of years in the early history of his leather business was my father, Mr. Peter Doremus, who withdrew from the firm in 1811 and started a general store on the site still occupied by his descendants. He also established an extensive shoe manufacturing business located on the corner now occupied by Charles M. Decker & Bros.' building. He was interested in the business, educational and moral welfare of the town, and respected for his integrity of character.

Many other names come trooping to memory of men who made up the town half a century ago, among them Capt. Joseph Munn, who opened his tavern in 1802 in the house that was moved to give place for the public library building. After the Turnpike was completed (a direct road from Morris County to Newark) he built and moved to what is now known as the Mansion House, which he conducted with general satisfaction to the traveling public till well advanced in life. He was a respected citizen and prominent in the Masonic Order.

Associated with Mr. Munn in the hotel and in the business of manufacturing hats, which was located on the opposite corner, now the Union Hotel, was Nathaniel Baldwin, who was the first appointed Postmaster of the town and kept the office in a side room of the hotel. Mr. Baldwin was a quiet and respected gentlemen. In his will he left a tract of land on Bloomfield Avenue, running through to Church Street, to the First Presbyterian Church, part of which is now occupied by the Church Manse and the Y.M.C.A. building.

Squire Ephraim Stiles, who served the town as magistrate for many years, lived on the property occupied by the late Mr. Charles K. Willmer and still has descendants living in Bloomfield. His son Silas was a teacher in the town school.

Adjoining Mr. Stiles' farm on the south lived Squire Gideon Wheeler. The old residence still stands. He was one of the early schoolmasters and his son AIsaac for many years was teacher of the village school. His son, Grant, lived on the property on Orange Road now occupied as the Hillside House, and with his son carried on an extensive paper manufacturing business.

An interesting old gentleman, whose blunt but genial presence was always enjoyable, was Mr. Moses Harrison. His home and farm were on Valley Road, embracing what is now Erwin Park, named for his son Erwin who succeeded him as occupant of the homestead and farm for many years. Mr. Jared Erwin Harrison was a man of thrift and held positions of trust. He, with William J. Harris and Grant J. Wheeler, was active in securing the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad to Montclair and all three were members of its first Board of Directors. Mr. Harrison conducted a large business in manufacturing cider and vinegar, which had an extensive reputation. He was a man of marked energy, stern, but tender-hearted. The old residence is still held and occupied by his descendants.

A little to the southwest on Valley Road lived Levi Kent, a friendly and familiar gentleman of the town, whose farm was a part of and joined the athletic grounds. His old home was moved back (and still stands) to give place for the new one built by Mr. Jacob Mayer, who purchased the farm, and whose descendants still occupy it.